The state does not plan to oppose a High Court of Justice petition by
the residents of the West Bank Migron outpost to remain in their
homes.

Last summer, the High Court of Justice issued a binding order
mandating the state to evacuate the outpost by August 1, because it
was built without proper permits on land classified by the state as
belonging to private Palestinians.

But early this month, outpost residents announced that they had
purchased 2.5 out of 5 hectares on which the outpost is located from
its Palestinian landowners.

Migron residents then petitioned the court to rescind its order given
that they had documents proving recent proof of purchase.

The court agreed to hear their petition next Sunday. In advance of
that hearing, the Ministerial Committee on Settlements – headed by
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu – met for over an hour Tuesday to
decide on the state’s position, which the prosecutor’s office is
scheduled to submit to the court on Wednesday.

According to a participant in the meeting, the ministers stood by the
policy that homes built without permits on private Palestinian
property, such as in the case of Migron, must be removed. But the
ministers believe if the court authenticates the land purchase, than
there was no reason to remove the homes.

They noted that the state was not party to the petition, nor had it
initiated it. But that if it is asked to give its opinion, the state
does not plan to oppose it.

Some members of the prosecutor’s office argued that the court mandate
should be upheld irrespective of the purchase. But ministers said
that Migron residents had a right to make their case to the court.

Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli Edelstein told
The Jerusalem Post after the meeting that he was pleased with the way
the discussion went.

“After the discussion today we understand the importance of the
committee. From now on policy won’t be determined by the private
initiative of this or that government employ but through well
discussed and properly formulated government decision,” Edelstein
said.

Migron spokesman Itai Chemo said he was hopeful that this was the
first step toward the legalization of the outpost, which is located
in the Binyamin Region of the West Bank, just outside of Jerusalem.

At present, however, the outpost is scheduled to be relocated two
kilometers away to an area near the Psagot Winery. The Binyamin
Regional Council is in the midst of building module homes for the 50
families by the winery.

After Migron residents filed their petition, the court placed a gag
order on any details, which might identify the Palestinian property
owners.

The Palestinian Authority imposes a death sentence on Palestinians
who sell property to Jews.